Let’s talk about chronic illnesses. As a reminder, the information found within this blog is informational, not prescriptive. Please consult your practitioner for any changes in your current medications and / or treatments.
Did You Know?
70% of health concerns today can be traced back to what we eat.
42% percent of adults are obese — or approximately 100 million U.S. adults.
Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes accounted for half of all annual deaths in the U.S. (about 1.5 million deaths).
Fibromyalgia – from all the research online, it appears they have no idea what causes it… but that it is becoming one of the most common conditions. Inflammation, nerves, muscles. Remember our discussion on what happens to toxins when we are not properly hydrated? Those toxins get stuck in the muscles and will cause a variety of issues, including the possibility of fibromyalgia. A diet in foods that are anti-inflammatory, and that strengthen the immune system are recommended.
From my research, I believe Fibromyalgia is an allergic reaction to something in the environment or food being consumed which causes inflammation, pain, and hypersensitivity to certain things. Understanding that the body is a self-healing organism and when it interacts with something that it deems a threat to the body, it reacts. Artificial colors, artificial flavors, chemicals, preservatives, GMO / bioengineered foods all play a role in creating inflammation as they are – at the base level – the same as a virus or an infection. The body takes steps to protect itself and this causes inflammation.
Most food allergies are temporary. When the body becomes inflamed (protecting itself) it becomes hypersensitive to any foreign matter or anything that MAY cause a reaction, hence food allergies. An example for you, an allergy to dairy may actually be a gluten intolerance. A gluten intolerance may actually be a reaction to food colors or artificial colors. Each body is different and handles / manages its self-healing system differently. Once the body is healthy and the inflammation recedes, it may be able to handle foods that were considered hostile.
Recommended Reading – http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/cfs/fib_alt_med.htm
High Blood Pressure – High salt and fatty food diets are known for their cause of hypertension, right? WRONG. Your body requires salt – check out this blog post for more info on salt. Your body needs fat – check out this blog post for more info on fat. The primary culprit for high blood pressure is SUGAR. However, people that are overweight, do not exercise enough, drink excessively, and smoke are all prime candidates for high blood pressure concerns as well. So, obviously a change in lifestyle and diet will make a huge difference. Not everything can be accomplished in one day – so take it a step at a time. For some people diabetes, adrenal, and / or thyroid problems will also increase blood pressure, as will some medications. If you have multiple chronic illnesses, they may all be interrelated. Sugar is the primary cause for high blood pressure, heart disease, fatty liver disease, and diabetes among others. Removing sugar from your diet may relieve many if not all of your problems at once.
Foods / Herbs for hypertension include garlic, Hawthorne, omega 3, magnesium, potassium, plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains/seeds. Reduce the amount of fried, fatty, sugary foods in your diet.
Recommended Reading – http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsek/a/Hypertension.htm
High Cholesterol – There have been loads of studies for high cholesterol. The newest ones show that cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease as previously believed. Worry less about your cholesterol levels and more about your overall health, it will work its way out. For more information on cholesterol check out this blog post.
Certain foods help keep your body alkaline and help maintain good cholesterol numbers – you might be surprised at several of them… almonds, walnuts, oatmeal, blueberries, salmon / tuna, red wine, soy, extra virgin olive oil, cayenne, green tea, apples, shitake mushrooms, artichoke, garlic, avocado, and dark green leafy vegetables. And again, if there is a list of what you should eat… there is also a list of what to stay away from: fast food, fried food, processed foods, junk food, dairy, tropical oils, and sweets / baked treats. You also have herbs that help – fenugreek, cayenne, garlic, Hawthorne berries, flax seed, and ginger.
Since LDL is broken down in the liver, good liver health is necessary… which means lowering alcohol and caffeine intake and increasing the intake of foods high in B complex vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and iron. Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, organic fruit juices, nuts, seeds, legumes, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts.
Recommended reading – http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/guide/heart-healthy-diet
Diabetes – SUGAR. SUGAR. SUGAR. Remove it from your diet. Type 2 diabetes is 100% manageable with diet and exercise. Eating sugar creates insulin resistance and this causes diabetes. By removing the sugar, you allow the body to heal, and the resistance goes away.
There are many contributing factors for diabetes including a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, obesity, certain medications, smoking, high-stress lifestyle, and certain illnesses. Certain illnesses (hypothyroidism / iodine deficiency) can lead to diabetes if not treated in time.
Superfoods for diabetes include asparagus, blueberries, grapefruit, beans, broccoli, carrots, fish, flaxseed, cranberries, apples, melon, nuts, oatmeal, red onions, raspberries, spinach, soy, green tea, tomatoes, and Greek yogurt.
Recommended Reading – http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/#“
Blessings – E